News

MIAA Tournament Berth Remains Elusive For Calvin Baseball Team After Loss at Alma

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

ALMA - A berth in the upcoming four-team MIAA Tournament remains elusive for the Calvin baseball team. The Knights need either a win or an Olivet loss this week to clinch their first-ever league tournament berth. On Tuesday, Calvin got neither as it dropped a 7-4 decision at Alma in a conference game that originally began on April 19 but was suspended after two innings because of weather with the game tied 2-2.

The resumption of the game took place Tuesday afternoon at Alma’s Klenk Park and the Scots took advantage of the Calvin pitching staff, recording nine hits in four innings of offensive work.

Alma (12-21 overall, 8-16 MIAA) took a 4-2 lead with two runs in the bottom of the third. Calvin had threatened in the top of the third but left the bases loaded with two outs. Alma added another run in the fifth to grab a 5-2 lead.

Calvin (15-19 overall, 14-10 MIAA) came back with two runs in the top of the sixth on a two-run RBI single by freshman Travis Kraai (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian HS). With the score 5-4, Alma tacked on two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth, using four hits and a wild pitch.

In the top of the seventh, Calvin loaded the bases with no outs but back-to-back strikeouts and a groundout ended the Knight threat.

Freshman Kyle Wasserberger (Spring Lake/Spring Lake HS) took the loss to fall to 1-1 on the year. Junior Jeff Victor (Holland/Holland Christian HS) also saw time in relief.

Calvin finished the game with seven hits in the loss. Sophomore Ben Wohl (Canton/Plymouth HS) was the lone Knight to have a multi-hit game as he was 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

Calvin will now prepare for a four-game weekend series with rival Hope. The Knights will host Hope Friday night in a twinight doubleheader at Fifth Third Ballpark in Comstock Park with first pitch slated for 5:30 p.m. On Saturday, Calvin will travel to Hope’s Boeve Stadium for a 1 p.m. twinbill.